Billboard construction



Aug. 16, 1960 w. N. MILLER, JR

BILLBOARD CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 16, 1957 HM/Fl William N. Miller, Jr.

ATTYJ:

Aug. 16, 1960 Filed Jan. 16, 195'? W. N. MlLLER, JR

BILLBOARD CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F l-G.3

fiv /afar William N. Miller, Jr.

Aug. 16, 1960 w. N. MILLER, JR

BILLBOARD CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 16, 1957 IFIG.6

FIG.8

INVENTOR. BY William N. Miller, Jr. WWW

United States Patent Outdoor Advertising Products Company, Inc., Greeuville, S.C., a corporation of South Carolina Filed Jan. 16, 1957, Ser. No. 634,511

3 Claims. (Cl. 40-125) This invention relates to improvements in billboard constructions and pertains more particularly to improvements therein embodying a construction enabling the actual posting of advertising material to be done indoors and wherein the posters are placed upon portable, lightweight panels of improved design which are easily removable and transportable from the outdoor supports therefor.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved billboard construction wherein the member upon which the advertising media is posted comprises a plurality of separate unitary panels, each of lightweight construction so as to be readily handled for mounting upon an associated support structure and wherein the advertising media is posted on the individual panels with the panels later being assembled on the support in a predetermined relation to cumulatively depict the advertising media in its proper relationship.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improvement of the above described character wherein each of the separate panels embodies an open rigid framework with the space defined by such framework being subdivided into a plurality of smaller spaces bounded on all sides by frame members, with each such smaller space or section being covered with a relatively thin sheet of lightweight material, such as aluminum, the edges of which are pressed down into and firmly anchored within the bonding framework portions of the space which the sheet covers.

Another object of this invention resides in a construction employing an open, network-like frame wherein the individual frame members thereof, although of relatively insignificant mass, nevertheless impart the requisite amount of rigidity thereto as to enable the structure to be readily carried by two men, and wherein the open, subsections presented by the framework are individually covered by individual sheets of thin, lightweight material.

to present a smooth exterior surface suitable for posting advertising media thereon, and wherein such individual sheets, although not independently possessing sufficient flexural rigidity for the purpose intended, are rendered individually sufiiciently rigid by the very means employed in securing these sheets to the framework, all without requiring additional elements for this purpose.

A further object of this invention resides in a construction in conformity with the preceding object wherein the framework embodies spaced, parallel rigidifying ribs on the outer face thereof which also present securing channels within which marginal edge portions of the individual sheets are forced to maintain the same in taut, rigid, fixed covering relation to the framework.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved billboard construction and more particularly a supporting structure for the abovementioned individual panels in which the support embodies an open type of framework wherein portions thereof defining such open framework serve as anchoring means for the individual 2 panels so that the individual panels may be quickly and easily mounted and taken down, as desired.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a billboard constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the plane of section line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing details of construction not only of the billboard support but also of one of the individual panels;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view partly broken away showing one corner of the billboard support structure and illustrating the manner in which adjacent members are secured together;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken through one of the vertical members forming the billboard support construction;

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the plane of section line 5--5 of Fig. 4 and more clearly illustrating the relationship of parts;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section illustrating certain details of the panel construction and illustrating the manner in which the panels are fixed to the supporting structure;

Fig. 7 is a section taken along the plane of section line 7--7 of Fig. 6 and further illustrating the manner in which the panels are secured to the supporting structure; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of one portion of a panel member.

Referring more particularly at this time to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the improved billboard construction embodies essentially a supporting structure and individual panels detachably mounted upon such support. In the particular construction shown, there are three separate and individual panel assemblages indicated generally by the reference characters 10, 1'1 and 12. These panels are detachably mounted in the manner hereinafter described upon the supporting structure which consists essentially of a plurality of horizontal stringer members 13, 14, 15 and 16 which are interconnected by means of the vertical main frame members 17 and 18, as is best illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Secured to these various frame members is an open rectangular border strip B, afiixed to the outer side of such frame members in the manner illustrated.

In the particular embodiment shown, the vertical frame members 17 and 18 are of composite construction whereas the horizontal members, see particularly Fig. 2, are made of single lengths of angle iron. To support the open framework of the supporting structure in elevated relation to the ground surface, a plurality of supporting posts 20, 21 and 22 are utilized, these posts forming no part of this invention but the manner in which they may be secured to the open framework comprising the supporting structure is illustrated most clear ly in Fig 2. In this figure, the posts are shown as bemgprovlded with a series of vertically spaced L-shaped brackets such as that indicated by the reference character 23, one leg of which is fixedly secured by any suitable means aud the other leg of which overlies the horizontal leg of the associated stringer members 13, 14, 15 and 16 and further fastening members are utilized, although not shown, for securing these two flanges together.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that each vertical frame member 17 or 18 as previously described is of composite construction for ease of, assembly and for the same time providing a light Weight yet rigid construction. In Fig.v 4, it will be noted that theverticalframe member i8 is composed of two parts, each of which is generally hat shaped in cross section. For example, in Fig. 4, the uppermost frame part in that figure is provided with a .web portion 24 and on opposite longitudinal edges thereof the depending or outstanding. legs 25 and 26, each of which terminates in outwardly directed flanges 27 and 28. The other part which is the lower in this figure, also incorporates a web portion 29, having along its opposite longitudinal edges thev right angularly bent legs 30 and 31, each of which terminates in the flange 32 or 33 with all of such flanges 27, 28, 32 and 33 being associated in. the manner shown and rigidly interfixed or interconnected in face-to-face contact by the fastening elements 34. As is shown most clearly in Fig. 5, the legs 30 and 31 of one part are notched as is indicated by the reference character 35 to receive therethrough an associated horizontal stringer such as that indicated by the reference character 14 and it is preferred that the notch be of just sufiicient depth as to snugly receive the associated stringer so that the same is clamped between the bottom of the notch and the opposed face of the flange 28, as is clearly shown, thus providing a very rigid yet light weight construction. I Each of the panels embodies a rigid open framework bonded on its sides by the respective members 36, 37, 38 and 39, see particularly Fig. 1, and these members are joined at the corners of the panel as is shown in Fig. 3 by means of an angle bracket member 44 having its respective legs engaged in face-toface contact against the inner surfaces of the abutting web portions and -suitably fastened thereto as by rivets 41..

Reference to Fig. 8 reveals the construction of each of the border members of the separate panels and from this figure it will be seen that each incorporates a Web 42 and an inner leg 43 and an outer leg indicated generally by the reference character 44 which is provided with'a longitudinal recess 45 spaced inwardly from the marginal edge thereof and which defines a tongue member 46'having an enlarged head 47 presenting a stepped inner surface as at 48 to present a retaining lip for a purpose hereinafter described, the free edge of the leg 44 terminates in the off set flange portion 49 which serves to rigidify the assembly.

With reference now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that each of the panel frames also incorporates a medially disposed vertical member 50 and a pair of evenly spaced horizontal members 51 and 52, all of these various intermediate members being si .ilarly constructed. The various sections which are formed by the frame members are individually covered by separate sheets 53. Each of these panels preferably is made from a sheet of light weight material, such as aluminum, with the marginal edges thereof laterally bent as at 5.4 and terminating in the off set flange portions 55 which hook in under the lip 48 as is shown in Fig. 8 to retain the various panels in place. For this purpose, all of the intermediate members 50, 51 and 52 are formed in the manner shown in Fig. 6 so as to incorporate a web 56 and laterally directed legs 57 and 58 with the web having a pair of longitudinally extending spaced legs 59 and 69 each terminating in enlarged heads 61 and G2 presenting the lips 63 and 64 similar to the construction shown in Fig. 8 so as to retain the off set flangm 54- of the panels and lock them in place. It is to be noted that the. free end edges of the various legs 61, 62, 46 are disposed in co-planar relationship and preferably they are off set from the outer face of the leg- 44' of the border members by a distanceequal to the thickness of the panel sheets 53. The poster is adhered directly to these various panel sheets 53 and since during ordinary posting, there will be some shrinkage of the posting sheet, and a consequent strain imposed upon the framework of the panels, the web portions 42 of the border members are angularly inwardly off set as is shown in Fig. 8 so that undue strain imposed upon these members will tend to pull the webs 42 into a direction perpendicular to the faces of the sheets 53, allowing adjacent panel sections to abut in very close relationship and prevent them from being canted or tilted due to the stresses imposed.

Each of the horizontal frame members 51 and 52 is provided with a series of U-shaped bracket members 65, the opposite legs 66 and 67 of which straddle the corresponding legs 57 and 58 of the horizontal members and are attached thereto as by rivets 68. The web. portion 69 of these bracket members bridges the space between the free ends of the legs 57 and 58 and are adapted to abut in face-to-face contact with the horizontal stringers 14 and 15 of the supporting structure and cooperatewith retainingv clips on these horizontal stringers to hold the panels in place. The retaining clips are most clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and are seen to consist of lengths of resilient metal having an enlarged foot portion 7tl suitably secured as by the fasteners 71 to the face of the vertical leg of the horizontal members 14 and 15 and extending in a direction longitudinally therealong and having an intermediate portion 72 ofi set from the opposed face of the horizontal member by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the web (W of the LJ-shaped brackets 65. The clips terminate in the angularly outwardly directed free end portions '73 which serve to guide the bracket webs into the position shown in Fig. 7 as the panels are slipped into place. In attaching the separate panels to the supporting structure, they are first engaged thereagainst, then slid along the length of the supporting structure so that the webs 69 and the brackets engage with the clips as is shown in Fig. 7, thus holding the panels in place. To support the various panels, an angle bracket member 74 is fixed along the lower edge of the supporting frame, as is shown most clearly in Fig. 2 and this member serves to cooperate with the clips to securely hold the various panels in their proper position on the supporting structure.

From the above description, it will be manifest that the essence of this invention concerns the provision of a sectionalized billboard wherein several separable panels are used on a common support for depicting a single display and wherein each of such panels is in itself sectionalized'. Each of the panels consists of an open latticelike framework constructed of a lightweight material with the lattice formation presenting sufiicient rigidity for the purposes intended and wherein the open areas of the lattice framework are individually covered by separate and individual sheets of thin, lightweight material, the sheet material being, in itself, insufliciently rigid for the purposes intended but being attached marginally to the lattice-like framework so as to be drawn tight and held in such taut relationship so as to be sufficiently rigid to receive the poster or advertising media thereon.

The individual sheets are held on the lattice-like framework so as to present a smooth surface for receiving the advertising media and the means which marginally holds the individual sheets and serves to rigidify the same to maintain them in taut condition also forms stiffening means for the framework members themselves.

It is preferred that the entire structure of the various panels be constructed of lightweight material, such as aluminum, so that they may be easily handled, the object being to remove the panels from the supporting struc ture when it is desired to change the advertising display and to remove these panels to the position where the new poster is posted and the panels may then be shipped back to the Site of the supporting structure and redisplayed.

If any one of the individual panel sheets should become damaged, it is a simple matter to replace one of these individual sheets and it is not necessary to recover the whole panel structure but only that portion which has become damaged. In order to remove an individual sheet, the sheet must be punctured or cut at an intermediate portion so as to relieve the tension of the sheet whereupon it can be easily deformed and peeled out of engagement with the retaining lips on the frame members. This is a simple matter since the thin sheets of aluminum are readily deformable once the tension on the individual sheets has been released. A new sheet may then be easily applied over a given space merely by pressing the offset flanges along the marginal edges thereof into operative position relative to the retaining lips on the frame members.

I claim:

1. A light-weight panel assembly for use with a billboard and adapted to have advertising media posted directly thereon, said panel assembly comprising a rigid framework including border frame members and substantially vertical and substantially horizontal cross frame members defining a lattice separated by a number of open areas so as to provide a light-weight yet rigid structure, an individual sheet of thin, light-weight metallic material rigidly aflixed to said framework and covering each of the open areas defined by said lattice, thereby defining a plurality of sheets mounted upon said framework, said sheets having forward faces disposed substantially in a single plane, whereby all of such sheets as mounted on the framework define a smooth even surface upon which advertising media may be posted, each of said sheets, by itself, being insufficiently rigid for posting advertising media thereon, each of said individual sheets having an offset flange formed along each marginal edge thereof, each of said frame members having an elongated continuous integral retaining lip formed thereon, each of the flanges on said sheets being in engagement with one of said lips whereby the sheets are positively supported on each side and held in taut rigid condition, and means carried by said framework for removably securing the same to an associated billboard support structure.

2. A light-weight panel assembly for use with a billboard and adapted to have advertising media posted directly thereon, said panel assembly including a plurality of interconnected spaced upstanding and transverse members defining an open framework of lightweight construction, said panel assembly comprising a rigid border frame including a pair of spaced upper and lower frame members and a pair of side members connected between opposite ends of said upper and lower frame members, a vertical frame member disposed medially of said panel and having its opposite end portions connected to said upper and lower frame members, said panel having a pair of spaced horizontal frame members, said horizontal frame members having the opposite ends thereof connected to said side frame members, said upper and lower frame members, said side frame members, and said vertical and horizontal frame members defining a plurality 6 of open spaces, each of said frame members having continuous integral ribs formed thereon defining elongated retaining lips, a sheet of light-weight metallic material covering each of said open spaces, each of said sheets being four-sided and having an offset flange formed along all four marginal edge portions thereof, said flanges being in engagement with said retaining lips for supporting each sheet in covering relationship to one of said open spaces whereby it is held in taut relationship due to being supported along all four edges thereof, all of the sheets of said panel assembly having a forward face disposed substantially in a plane thereby defining a surface adapted to receive advertising media thereon, and means carried by said framework for removably securing same to an associated billboard structure.

3. A light-weight panel assembly for use with a billboard and adapted to have advertising media posted directly thereon, said panel assembly comprising a rigid border frame of substantially rectangular configuration, horizontal and vertical frame members rigidly attached to said border frame to form a lattice-like configuration, a plurality of upstanding continuous integral parallel ribs formed on each of said frame members and extending longitudinally therealong, one of the ribs of each of said frame members being of substantially rectangular crosssectional configuration, and another of the ribs of each of said frame members adjacent to said one rib being provided with a curved camming surface and including an undercut portion adjacent said curved portion and facing said one rib, said undercut portions defining retaining lips, a sheet of lightweight metallic material covering each of the openings defined by said lattice and each sheet having a laterally directed offset flange formed continuously along each marginal edge portion thereof, said flanges projecting between adjacent ribs and being anchored by said retaining lips so that each sheet is firmly attached to the framework in covering relation to an associated opening thereby defining a plurality of sheets mounted on said framework, said sheets having forward faces disposed substantially in a single plane to present a smooth outer surface for the panel on which advertising media can be mounted, and means carried by said framework for removably securing same to an associated billboard support structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 957,250 Ruby May 10, 1910 1,130,844 Ruby Mar. 9, 1915 1,754,932 Browne et al Apr. 15, 1930 1,860,919 Ansel May 31, 1932 2,066,255 Dempsey Dec. 29, 1936 2,137,508 Powell Nov. 22, 1938 2,226,679 Walters Dec. 31, 1940 2,271,924 Nielsen Feb. 3, 1942 2,364,083 Lindsay Dec. 5, 1944 2,490,663 Van Uum et a1. Dec. 6, 1949 2,775,833 Wishart Jan. 1, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 327,186 Great Britain Mar. 31, 1930 

